ALHC vs. MRK: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at ALHC and MRK, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.
Company Overview
MRK stands out with 193.30 billion USD in market value—about 63.73× ALHC’s market cap of 3.03 billion USD.
ALHC’s beta of 1.33 points to much larger expected swings compared to MRK’s calmer 0.44, suggesting both higher upside and downside potential.
| Symbol | ALHC | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Alignment Healthcare, Inc. | Merck & Co., Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Medical - Healthcare Plans | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| CEO | Mr. John E. Kao | Mr. Robert M. Davis J.D. |
| Price | 15.33 USD | 76.98 USD |
| Market Cap | 3.03 billion USD | 193.30 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.33 | 0.44 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| IPO Date | March 26, 2021 | January 13, 1978 |
| ADR | No | No |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of ALHC and MRK over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).
Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Valuation Metrics Comparison
The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of ALHC and MRK based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.
- ALHC posts a negative P/E of -32.75, reflecting last year’s net loss, while MRK at 11.18 signals healthy earnings.
- ALHC posts a negative forward PEG of -1.11, hinting at anticipated earnings decline, whereas MRK at 4.93 has projections for stable or growing earnings.
| Symbol | ALHC | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | -32.75 | 11.18 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | -1.11 | 4.93 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 1.01 | 3.02 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 27.45 | 4.03 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 159.00 | 11.34 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | -64.47 | 8.04 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 0.86 | 3.43 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | 136.01 | 12.88 |
Dividend Comparison
ALHC offers a 0% dividend yield, suggesting it may be reinvesting available cash back into the business for future growth, while MRK provides a 4.10% dividend yield, giving investors a steady income stream.
| Symbol | ALHC | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 4.10% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of ALHC and MRK, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- Both ALHC and MRK report negative interest coverage ratios (-2.98, -75.48), meaning EBIT itself is negative—neither can cover interest, a critical solvency warning.
| Symbol | ALHC | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.69 | 1.41 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.69 | 1.16 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.07 | 0.72 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.01 | 0.30 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -2.98 | -75.48 |